40-Something Elections

Does anyone else have a hard time accepting forty-something candidates for president and vice-president?

Surprisingly, no. I think it's neat that people my age are getting to run. I'm relating better to the candidates my age, I think. I've got a son about the same age as Palin's oldest, and I suspect we'd have similar parenting stories.

I have lots of problems with Sarah Palin, but age isn't one of them. I think there is a certain vitality and sharpness among 40-something candidates.

Any candidate in his/her 40's isn't an issue for me. A candidate with health issues, well, that has concerned me (i.e., our current VP's cardiac history and need for hospitalization during his time of service). Leading this country, whether as the President or the Vice President, requires strength and stamina. Health issues concern me far more than age - at least until dementia starts setting in.

It did occur to me, during the Democratic primaries, that it wasn't first-ever-non-white-nominee vs. first-ever-female-nominee but (gasp!) Barack Obama is a year younger than me! After a few hours of thinking "Wow!" it faded into nothing.

Then my Dad said something that reminded me it's 30 years since I first voted!

Truth be told, I have no difficulty with the age of a candidate. But sometimes I'm stunned by the age of me. How did I get to be this old, and why doesn't it feel anything like I thought it would?

(Ditto to Jayne Pupek at 3. On demographics alone, Sarah P. and I should be able to sit down like old friends, but I can't think of one single thing on which I agree with her.)

When I heard about Obama, I thought "But he's only 7 years older than me." And then I thought "Shouldn't I be running for Chancellor by now?" *lol* Not that I ever wanted to be in politics.
Obama make me feel decidedly middle-aged!